Filenews 25 April 2022 - by Dora Christodoulou
During this time, the voices of protesting citizens about the unusual extent of traffic problems on a daily basis on busy roads of the city are increasingly being heard. The temporary unpleasant thing for the citizens of Pafos is that these difficulties will not only continue, but will intensify in the coming days, since the reconstructions are now spreading throughout the central fabric of the city. In the long term, however, the current difficulties will turn into a permanent functional and aesthetic upgrade of the city and the quality of life of its people, the municipal leaders point out, calling on the citizens to show the necessary patience for a short time to come.
The Easter image of Pafos in 2022 is more reminiscent of a construction site than a festive period. The start of the redevelopment works that are already being carried out in the central fabric of the city and in busy parts of the road network, such as the first section of Ellados Avenue, by Evagoras Pallikaridis Avenue, Griva Digenis Avenue leading to the historic centre and Neophytou Nikolaidis Avenue, create an unusual setting for a small town such as Paphos, with traffic problems naturally appearing for the first time to such an extent.
Although the Municipality of Pafos has received provisions for the smooth movement as far as possible at these points, it is obvious and given that traffic "heart attacks" could not be avoided. The redevelopment and improvement of central road axes and areas is one of the largest projects carried out in the modern history of Paphos, at a cost of nine million euros. The extent of the project makes it inevitable to cause serious and time-consuming problems in the everyday life of the city and the citizens, which is why the Municipal Authority asks for the understanding and patience of everyone during this difficult period.
The problem is expected to be particularly serious in the coming period at busy junctions and axes, such as Evagoras Pallikaridis Avenue, Ellados, Griva Digenis, but therefore also in places where no works are being carried out, such as the historic centre and Kennedy Square.
The problem that the citizens will be called to manage in their daily lives is recognized by the officials of the Municipality of Pafos, pointing out, however, that the arrangements made could not be made in a different way, since the existing road network is of the 60s and 70s and therefore did not give any outlets.
Main roads, square areas, crowded areas have for weeks been temporarily inaccessible to citizens, as a price for the radical redevelopment and modernization of Pafos and its areas beyond the historical centre.
The mayor of Pafos, Phedonas Phaedonos, expressed his belief that very soon the normal suffering of citizens and visitors will come to an end: "We are moving fast. The crews also understood that they need to speed up. Everything will change for the better. Pafos is changing", was his characteristic post on his personal social media account, on the occasion of the major project on Ellados Avenue.
And indeed, in this key part of the city, something seems to be changing in the last week: In its final stage it seems that the inconvenience of commuters in the rising current of Ellados Avenue, as well as the businesses that are on this side of the avenue, where in recent months the major project of redevelopment and upgrading of this central road axis of the city is in full swing, is now entering its final stage.
The works on this particular track by the Municipal Park of Dasoudi up to the Lidl supermarket have almost been completed and have already been given to traffic. This is a development of major importance for the daily lives of thousands of commuters on the road network, businessmen in the area, as well as consumers, since the works in the rise of Ellados have caused a traffic heart attack in a large part of Paphos, as well as great economic damage to the affected businesses.
The major project on Ellados Avenue will certainly not be completed with the opening of this section, since the works are transferred to other parts of the road axis until their partial completion. However, satisfaction is expressed for the pace of completion of each part of the project, since the central role of Greece in the traffic and commercial everyday life of Pafos requires its promotion as soon as possible.
Another of the most nodal and busy roads of the city, Neophytou Nikolaidis Avenue, was also given to traffic these days, contributing to a great extent to facilitating the movement of thousands of motorists and decongesting the entire city centre.
This particular avenue, which connects the eastern entrance of the Municipality of Pafos with its historic centre and passes through important services such as the Government Buildings, the District Court, as well as dozens of commercial businesses and catering centres, was opened for traffic after months of work to upgrade and modernize it.
The works in Neophytou Nikolaidis have not been fully completed, since although the road is now used by wheeled vehicles, work continues for the completion of the pavements on either side of the roadway and for the completion of the installation of the wiring of the services of social benefit.
The mayor of Pafos also expressed his satisfaction for the opening of this central avenue of the city with a post on social media. Phaedon Phaedonos wrote specifically after the opening of Neophytou Nikolaidis: "In a few weeks all the cables and stakes leave and the road acquires a European image".
